Review Hugo's Bistro - Auckland Central

One of the best dining experiences we've had - better than most fine-dining as well. Outstanding service, the Maître d' was amazing, and perfectly interjected at the right times, made us feel welcome and perfectly recommended something for us to get started... The drinks were perfect, and we didn't even get to the wines! Amazing, and we'll be back again for sure, plenty of other menu options we wanted to try, so will be going back to try them all soon!

A consistently excellent inner city bistro for weekday eats, with super friendly reliable service from well-informed staff. If you ever can’t think of anywhere to go for dinner or a nice lunch, this is the place. Make sure to scroll to see the top notch parfait and the orange tart for dessert. A must have dish that I wait all year round for, is the venison. The whole fit out is very comfortable and perfect for colder and wetter days like these

Our host and waiter was very friendly and honest. Food was delicious, specially the parmesan fried croquettes. Very chic setup. The chocolate mousse dessert is a must. The venison and the market fish were very tasty too. Not cheap but worth it for a special occasion.

Service is excellent, fun and witty without being intruding. We'll informed staff on everything going with helpful suggestions if you are unsure of anything. Food's thoroughly enjoyable but not memorable. Great place to go to enjoy someone's company

Food: (10/10) Entrees: we had the anchovies & sourdough and duck liver parfait. Both were pretty good! The sourdough was so moist inside. Mains: Ricotta gnocchi was fabulous. The basil, Parmesan and gnocchi all together were heaven. The sauce is legit 10/10. Literally the BEST! The Wapiti was succulent and juicy. Dessert: we had the olive oil semifreddo but it tasted quite interesting. The ice cream was sweet but it didn’t balance out the acidity of the mandarin granita. Service: (10/10) Staff were super friendly and attentive!

Understated and classy - it’s a great experience dining here. You get looked after really well and the food and beverage selection is outstanding. Been here a few times, low key one of our favourite spots to dine in Auckland CBD. The food is very wholesome and worth the money you’ll spend here. Highly recommended.

From the moment we arrived and were cheerfully greated until the time we were thanked for visiting tonight's experience was stupendous. The Maitre d made us comfortable, laugh and reflect on the menu ingredients, the servers courteous and efficient, the course timings impeccable and the chef/s definately worked their magic to allow our palates to dance. We arrived wanting to try this year's Restaurant month menu and left promising we would return and send others along. Definately a place to make a local with an ever changing menu.

The food is amazing! The service is great too! The only drawback is that the body will take the smell of kitchen oil and tobacco home, the smell of oil and tobacco in the restaurant is some heavy

Chicken liver is my favorite！！！The confit potato tasted really good. 5-star recommended！

I am into fish recently. This fish was the BEST fish in any restaurant in Auckland. Garlic butter, curry leaves and grilled lemon. Fantastic combination. Potato chip was also good. Friendly staff as well.

After much anticipation, I finally got to visit Hugo’s Bistro in Shortland Street during restaurant month 2020. Upon entering, the restaurant interior is very stylish and elegant with its warm contemporary elongated lines with stunning pink hue artwork. The service was truly exemplary and we were warmly greeted, attentively and well looked after during dining. Whilst browsing the menu, I was captivated by discovering Monstrella-Garnarcha Spanish wine so more of glasses followed along with Antipodes. I was really impressed by the varietals on offer. I enjoyed the sourdough with whipped butter to graze on whilst we contemplated the menu options. We started with the grilled octopus with leek and romescue and the snapper crudo. The entrees were heavenly and an exciting start to our dinner. Following on, we enjoyed the goats cheese ravioli with burnt butter sage and the wagu bavette accompanied with grilled asparagus with fried buckwheat and whipped ricotta. Our mains were simply divine and moorish. Closing out we ordered the burnt caramel baked cheesecake and treacle tart with lattes and this was a perfect end to dinner. Our dining experience was extraordinary and remarkably memorable and it was most fulfilling finally to experience Hugo’s Bistro. Thank you, we will return again. Highly recommended with the highest distinction!

Impressive 2022 restaurant month menu, hard to pick our favourite dish out of 5 courses as they were all amazing! The dishes that stood out the most were the salad and dessert, the dessert - the citrucy semifreddo was sooooo delicious and perfect to end the night. Besides, the satff provided excellent service and were friendly and attentive, the restaurant ambience was great which enhanced the dining experience. Last but not least we really enjoyed the couch sitting at the back - perfect for couples who are on a date. We can't wait to go back and try the breakfast and lunch menu :)

My Lord, not had much better bistro food than here, France, UK or anywhere else. Executed perfectly. I like this type of cooking well seasoned so was right on the money. Long wait on the main but it was worth the wait. Even the cocktail at the start was one of the best I’ve had in NZ

You can taste the effort, time and thought that goes into each dish. The ingredients oozes quality and each dishes is seasoned to perfection. Love the interior decorations too.

A fabulous evening with great food. No trouble to push out our reservation due to running a bit late thanks to Auckland transport woes. Friendly hosts. Great ambiance. Fantastic food. Our choices: duck, deer, flatbread with octopus. Moderately priced, good red wine. The perfect place to spend a cold evening with family. Prices compare well to other restaurants and nice to have something a bit different. Looking forward already to our next visit.

The food everything was very nice. But was very PRICEY and expensive The Servicer was very nice

Been here twice and the food is consistently good. The highlight is definitely the croquettes and the setting -aesthetically pleasing and calm yet such a central location. Would recommend giving this place a go, might just become your go-to.

I always come here for a brunch with my friends because I like how intimate and tucked in the whole environment is. The ambience is a 10/10 for me to be honest and I love the vibe. <br/><br/>I highly recommend their cabinet pastries and bakeries because they are always so yummy, so if you are undecided with their brunch menu, you can just ask for the cabinet food.<br/><br/>I love their cold pressed juices eh. It feels so refreshing and always a better option if you aren’t a coffee or tea drinker.<br/><br/>The crepe was okay to be honest, I just wish it had less of the ricotta in it and had a bit of something else but the hugo’s complete breakfast is so good, especially that avocado eh.<br/><br/>If you are coming there with your friends, be sure to come together than wait for each other there because there were several instances that the waitresses ended putting us up on different tables, which is minor but just confusing lol<br/><br/>Anyway I will keep coming back. :)

Delicious! I loved my meal here! The interior is beautiful and intimate. The service was great, our waitress was very attentive and helped us with our meal selection.<br/>The food was delicious and presented on the plate beautifully.<br/>Hugo’s doesn’t have 7 day opening hours, so check before you go.

Disappointed.<br/><br/>Had high hopes for today.<br/>Came out extremely early for anniversary. Recent tight budget meaning less to spend. Hence got first table. Arrived 6 mins late because of black friday traffic, totally out of our control.<br/>Declined a first table discount because 6 mins late. Normally as a human being you would probably be understanding. As a healthcare professional I wouldnt see my next patient or charge them more because they were a little late.<br/><br/>We were given alternative of paying full addition to 10 dollar we already paid. Otherwise we were asked to leave because the seats were filling up. There were only 2 groups of people there - 2 and 3.<br/><br/>Understand rules apply. What is the point of having a human to greet front door if you are going to apply strict restrictions all the time and not allow for genuinely human conditions.<br/><br/>Not sure about the food because I didnt get to taste it but disappointed about the non human approach to the situation.<br/>Feeling only a sour bitterness because of the 10 dollar fine.<br/><br/>The front of house staff who saw us managed to present herself politely.<br/><br/>Have used first table before a LOT of times with similar circumstances but managers were all understanding.<br/>(Restaurants that were understanding include:<br/><br/>Astor tapas bar<br/>Rude boy deli<br/><br/>Still disappointed, though and probably wont go from this bitter taste.

A great little inner-city bistro, lovely ambience, food and service. To start I had the grilled lamb chops with anchovy, mint and yoghurt. This was on the average side for me as I didnt feel the yogurt complimented the lamb well. The fish of the day which was Flounder with the best lemon butter coating. it was boneless and just melted in mouth. The wagyu bavette with fries and kampot pepper sauce.Loved the peperriness though I have to say that I felt this dish was a little on the salty side, each component on the plate was well seasoned but combined it was a little salty which overtook the beautiful flavour slightly. We also had their side of vegetables with with the famous smoked butter and an egg yolk-beautifully cooked. I left the star of the experience till the last which for me was the Black Angus Tartare on dripping toast. I would go back to Hugos anyday just to have this dish. The toast was crisp and tartare had the best umami of flavours. 💯 Overall great dining experience at Hugos and I appreciated the Chef’s efforts in creating food outside of the box. 👏

Damn came to Hugo's Bistro for dinner for the first time last night and was very impressed. The decor and how the restaurant looks is super clean and calm I loved it. The ambience was very calming and inviting. For a drink I got the Cucumber, mediterranean tonic and lime which was super refreshing would be so nice in summer, I couldn't finish it because it was very over powering but was defienlty super tasty. We the ordered the sourdough smoked butter, molasses which costs $6 per person which was a bit pricy for what it really is but the smoked butter was devine I've never had anything like it before. For a main I got the Chicken Milanese Cos & Parmesan which was absolutely devine , cooked perfectly and full of flavour. My brother got the Smoked Kahawai Fritters which he loved , I also tried some and they were devine. My dad and other brother got the Wagyu Bavette which they both found enjoyable and full of flavour. My mum got the Beef cheek which she also loved. For dessert I shared the Chocolate Delice with my brother and we both really enjoyed it as it was a super chocolatey and creamy with a caramel sauce and creme fraiche , was delicious. The staff were very friendly and inviting , continually topping up our glass of water and checking in if our meals are okay and if we need more drinks or food. Overall experience was very lovely would love to be back. x

Not a place to eat if you want to hold a conversation. Our table being the only one booked at that time of evening we asked twice for the music to be turned down. It was turned down briefly (1 minute?) then came back louder. Staff evidently more important than customers. That's pretty insulting in my book. Food (fish, gnudi, bread in particular) heavy and uninspired though smoked butter was good. Service was average--no engagement or interest in diners.

Every dish is spot on. Good service, nice warm space and pretty decent selection of wine. Ate here twice in a day, didn’t disappoint. Will definitely come back again.

The decor is light and relaxed, the food was very good, very fresh and tasty. I had the grilled octopus which was the highlight of the night, the steak frites, and the nostalgic jelly tip eclair. I enjoyed all it very much

The main lady was super friendly. Food came out in a timely manner. Food was really nice. Did the resturant month which was great value for money. Had the prawn croquette, beef cheeks and espresso semifreddo <br/>

Our table of 5 friends came here for the $40 three-course lunch menu the other day.<br/>The lady waitress greeted us warmly on our arrival.<br/>Each of the three courses were quite yummy but however they were so small that we were left wanting for more.<br/>This is a great place for entertaining business clients or friends from overseas, or just on special occasions...... as a $40 lunch is otherwise considered normally expensive!!

Loved all the dishes we tried as apart of restaurant months set course at Hugo’s. (Except for the prawn croquettes due to personal preference) BUT our experience was ruined as when we arrived home my partner and I realised our legs were covered in insect bites. We sat in the rear of the restaurant on the teal couches. We had not ubered anywhere that night and the fleas were not in our own house, nor at either of our workplaces as we would have realised earlier in the day. Hopefully Hugo’s will fix the situation. I would have loved to returned to Hugo’s but the major inconvenience of taking precautions by washing everything in our house and flea bombing the place has put me off returning. I would have expected nothing more in a place like Denny’s or McDonald’s but this was utterly disappointing. I did not expect to ever pay $200 to be covered in flea bites. 😞

Was really excited to try Hugo’s, some of the food was absolutely incredible (beef cheeks & starter bread) and the sides were very basic. Overall a good time there, nice low light but solid enough to see what you’re eating. Was a little disappointed that they didn’t have a cocktail menu in their wine list, we didn’t ask for one but would have probably ordered more if one had been there

The ambience is really cozy perfect for an intimate night out. The place itself is away from the main queen street so it is quite hidden and peaceful. I ordered chargrilled tuna and it was amazing. The smoky flavor is masking the fishy taste and the puree complimented the whole dish. I thought I'm not going to be able to finish it since it is a big piece but it is nice and light so I had a clean plate at the end of it. Will go back again.

Despite Hugo's Bistro (HB) as being one of the newest modern restaurants at the heart of the city, the lack of wow factor and flavor in its dishes makes it a rather forgettable experience.  For the positives, the restaurant is well decorated, has a nice ambiance and is very sleek in its presentation. The waitress we had was really nice and knew the menu very well. The dishes were well proportioned and there was an attention to detail which was great for a bistro for its size. Like any good bistros in France, simplicity has to be at its core with a casualness that doesn't fall on pretentiousness. That is something HB achieves to its credit. <br/><br/>However, no matter how well a place is presented, the food does the ultimate talking and unfortunately for HB, I would say the food is rather bland and uninteresting. We had ordered the bbq octopus, the steak, veal, and broccoli for dinner, but when normally this will leave me drooling for more, I can't recall anything that really stood out. The food is well cooked, if not close to perfection. The veal schnitzel was well fried but again, it didn't really have much flavor given it was dominated by the cheese on top of it. Comparing this to Sky City's Gutso which also does a similar veal dish, Gusto had a more refined flavor and was better cooked overall. Similarly, for the scotch fillet, I had better steak cooked and seasoned throughout pubs in Auckland. <br/><br/>It might seem unfair to hold HB with high regards to other restaurants in Auckland given its intention has been clearly to be a bistro at the forefront. But given the price of its dishes and its location to other eateries, HB is, unfortunately, an establishment that is more style than substance.

Absolutely flummoxed at the score Hugo’s has garnered on Zomato, a measly 3.1…. are you kidding me? Rather than to be bumptious and assume that all the other ratings are just wrong, I’m going to instead describe my wonderful experience at Hugo, hopefully coaxing a few people to change their minds. <br/><br/>Hugo’s has a sleek layout, giving you a feeling of intimacy and privacy. The interior of Hugos is perfect for small groups or those that are after some romancing. We had quite the waiter serving us as he carefully answered our prodding questions about the menu and he suggested the market fish which was a seared tuna steak with olives, beef covered with this cheesy spinach sauce with a piece of multi-grained toast, garlic bread, hand cut chips with mayonnaise and beef croquettes covered in mustard. Typing out my our order definitely has my mouth starting to water again! <br/><br/>The Tuna steak with olive had such a light refreshing taste, that it almost felt like it rejuvenated your palate. Tender, hearty and full f flavor the cheesy spinach sauce with beef just made you want to keep taking mouthfuls. The others meal also tasted fantastic, but in those two really stuck out for me. <br/><br/>There is also the fact that the dish here had so much color, it made me excited to taste my meal because of how enticing everything looked, so I applaud the chef for taking caring in plating. <br/><br/>It’s incredulous to me that so few people have tried this place, so implore everyone to put Hugo’s on their list of must eats! P.S the cocktails here aren't too shabby at all.<br/><br/>Showstopper: This would be my ideal dining spot, fine dining without the formalities. You can feel relaxed here and just enjoy the ambiance.<br/><br/>Overall Grade: A

Nice deco and service. However, the food is average and a little bit overpriced. Lack of good flavours is the reason I might not come back. Chocolate dessert served with ice cream was nice, but they don't have it anymore.

We had dinner here.. really great service and loved the sexy wee fit out- inspiring. <br/>I discovered my new fave cocktail- spicy margarita! Delish. We had the salt fish croquettes and I’ve been thinking about them ever since, yummo. We followed with the brisket and veal and loved the ingredients they used- so tasty and fresh. And finished sharing the chocolate tart, rich and gorgeous.<br/>We’ll be back! Keen to try brunch menu too.

Blown away by this bistro not only is the food exceptional but the staff are wonderful and the interior is second to none. My new favourite place.

Wow! We were treated to a really special night out at Hugo's recently and every detail was perfect. From the beautiful decor to the wonderful service and incredible food. Stylish and unique with an interesting and delicious menu. Service was amazing from the moment we walked in the door and the staff all worked as a team which meant that we were always attended to. The wine list is extensive and you can tell that real thought and understanding has gone into creating the menu and drinks list. We'll be back! For dinner and to try the breakfast menu.

Great food, great atomsphere and great friendly service! Thanks hugos, we'll be back many times.

HORRIFIC service. 5 of us came in for breakfast at 7.30am. Our waitress did not smile once. Two of us ordered long blacks with coconut milk (which they charge extra for). When we received only one milk, we asked for the other we had the response isn't that enough? Eye roll. Took forever to have our plates taken away. Ordered another round of coffees and after 20 mins of waiting we had to leave and cancel our order. No apology that it had taken an age despite the place not being full (they hadn't even started making them). Very passive aggressive service from the woman who processed our payment. Will not be returning.

Lovely friendly front of house unfortunately not backed up by very oily scrambled eggs. I found it disappointing from a food perspective but a worthy atmosphere for a business breakfast.

Good ingredients cooked simply that highlight the produce is what I enjoy. However there still had to be a secret wow factor to keep you eating. Unfortunately there isn't. The steak was cooked medium rare and drizzled with pesto and a cooked pasta sheet. Somehow the ingredients didn't really tie together. It just needed a little more of a binding factor which I ended up using the sour cream in my appetiser to do that. The peppers and eggplant again needed even just a little bit more salt to lift the dish.

Tried out Hugos on perhaps the third day it had been open. The design and fit out is fantastic, probably more suited to dinner service however I was here early in the morning so sampled a little of the all day menu. Coffee was strong and smooth and the cheese toastie was delicious with a refreshing cucumber and tomato salad on the side. Will have to come back to try more of the menu.

Had lunch here with 3 others about 10 days ago and it was great.  Lovely fit out - warm hues which helped to brighten a gloomy winter's day, and very good service.  We shared a couple of the lighter meals between the 4 of us for entree and luckily we know each other well as there were frequent returns to eat all the clam broth - it was so yummy.   Peppers with goat cheese also very nice.  We each tried a different main - I had the brisket as I had read good things about it, and it didn't disappoint.  Others on the table enjoyed their meals, but I think they had a bit of brisket envy.  My only niggle on the food front would be that the sprouts were slightly underdone and had too much of the core left in them - visually appealing, however not so wonderful to bite into.  Will definitely go back.

Am a big fan of Odettes so was eager to try out the new sibling restaurant in the CBD.  Hugo's Bistro is a gorgeous space, intimate, relaxed, with soft hues, beautiful fixtures, and a classy vibe.  I especially love the open kitchen - its cool seeing experts do their thing!    <br/><br/>Ordered the Brisket with spinach, dijon, and rye bread which was superb.  Rich in flavour, thinly sliced, melt in the mouth, definitely my favourite dish of the night.  And the Market Fish (seared tuna) with chard, anchovy, and olives.  The flavours when combined were outstanding (would have never thought to pair tuna with olives?!!) and the tuna itself had been prepared with much care and attention.  Finally the Cauliflower with eggplant, cheese and walnuts which was fairly straight forward and performed nicely as a side dish to the brisket and fish.<br/><br/>We shared these dishes and there was more than enough for two.  Our meal was light yet full of flavour, quality ingredients, and thoughtful creativity. We left feeling very satisfied and nourished.   <br/><br/>Service (as expected) was excellent.  <br/><br/>TIP: You can book via the webpage - its super easy and follow-up by the restaurant after booking is spot-on.

We checked out Hugo's for lunch yesterday and we'll definitely be back. We shared the chicken ham hock celery dish and the brisket with spinach and rye. Both were beautifully presented (as was everything else we saw coming out of the kitchen!) and delicious. The service was spot on and there are so many appealing options on the menu.